Junna Tsukii received a huge morale boost heading into a busy 2021.
The Filipina-Japanese karateka was able to best world no. 6 Valeria Kumizaki in the finale of a pocket tournament held in Arandelovac, Serbia, Sunday.
Tsukii defeated Kumizaki in the finale, 1-1. The 29-year-old Pasay-born Tsukii, who ranks no. 10 in the world in the minus-50 kg. weight class, competed in the minus-55 category.
Tsukii left Japan last October 30 to train in Serbia with Karate Klub Knjaz Arandjelovac.
“I really feel the results of training the month in here,” she said.
Also competing in the event are members of the Serbian national team.
The event was a simulation of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament set next year which will see a round robin format with the karateka garnering the most points advancing to the next round.
Tsukii is eyeing a spot in Tokyo.
